sunfish

Hardiness zone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

planetrj

If anyone understands PRECISELY what the "From/To" chart is about. Please let me know.

One theory is: Global Warming/Updated minimums.
Another is: Total Variance in that sub-zone.

Thanks!

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you will never have enough bananas ^_^

Abnshrek

All bananas are Living Space Hardy if they are in the house, or office during the Winter, getting light, and food.. :^)

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I'm a Nannerhead :^)

JodoGarden

The "from/to" chart shows minimum temperatures for each zone. Zones are broken down into two parts, A and B.. the A of each zone being slightly colder than the B within 5 degrees. The temperature ranges within each zone just shows the coldest known temperature and then a 5 degree range where that zone "resides". In other words zone 10a for example resides within 30F and 35F (technically it would be 30F - 34.99F)... 10b resides within 35F and 40F and so on. The most important thing to look at in a zone is the lowest temperature, not so much the temperature range that defines it. The lowest temperature is what actually defines the zone regardless of the temperature range. It's more of a microclimate thing. Some people say things like "a warm zone 10a" for example... meaning it might only get down to 34 degrees and not 30 degrees... so that temperature range makes sense and maybe someday the zones will get broken down into even smaller sub-zones.

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Illia

I believe it's variation in general. For example, we're zone 8 here. One can expect it to get down to the low 20's here, and sometimes in scary winters can go to the teens, however, from time to time through our records we have indeed met lower. Thankfully we've never ever seen below 5 degrees in the last, I think, 40 years? Or more. So, with it varying, it's safe to say that if something was "hardy to zone 8" out here, I would most certainly mulch and protect it well just in case.

So in a nutshell though, one should always be prepped for upper teens in zone 8. Because, though not too common, it does happen. We've gotten in twice in the ten years here I've remembered.



Oh yeah, also, - From/To means from #a to #b. For example, 8a is 15 degrees, 8b is 20 degrees. So though you're in zone 8, you could be from a to b. But personally I just consider both when it comes to growing plants whose sensitivity are just a letter (5 degrees) away from dying.

sunfish

Maybe micro-climates in those zones

pushak513

how often are these updated cus mine could use an update. it says im in zone 6B but I don't remember single digits in the last 5 or 6 years. I think 12F was as low as it got last year.

JodoGarden

The zones are based on studies that have been done for many years. The latest zone map was released recently... in the past couple of years and was based on minimum temp readings over a 30 year period. So, years can go by that are warmer than the zone you are in or you could be in a micro climate that rarely sees the minimum temp for the zone.

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Abnshrek

If it was adjusted every season I would've been 9B for last winter.. I've had 9A lows already this year. Its been so cold w/ them Canadian winds I'm thirsty for a Molson Golden. :^)

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I'm a Nannerhead :^)

designshark

So, which method can we believe? Short term can be short sighted, long term can be tried and true. If we believe the zones have creeped up in the warmer range over the past 'few years' then what are we to think when it dips down again in the 'old zone' measurement? It also seems many years ago when meteorologist actually predicted the weather and displayed it with magnetic graphics on a board it seemed more accurate.

JodoGarden

You def want to go with tried and true if you want to achieve permaculture. I always tell people to plant a zone colder... mainly due to micro climates and the fact that sometimes a few degrees colder can make a huge difference for sensitive plants. BUT we can still TRY to grow bananas in every zone

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designshark

I agree, let's push the zone and see what happens!

Illia

Personally I measure up the last ten years of minimum temps I've experienced in my area, then consider the lowest on record in the last 50+ years and definitely put that in perspective with not-so-cold hardy plants. For example, we normally don't go below 18 degrees out here, which makes it that some plants I'm growing are fine as they're hardy to 15 degrees, but, I know we've gone below 18 more than once in the last 20 years, so, I always keep supplies around just in case a big/bad one hits. If freezes ever start going below 28 degrees, I start covering anything hardy to 15.

Let's face it - There's just some things you GOTTA grow even if your area isn't perfectly warm enough lol. Pineapple Guava, Chilean Guava, Jelly Palm, Date Palm, cold-hardy edible Bananas, Loquats - All not the most cold hardy things but will survive out here in most winters. They're just too good of plants to not take on the challenge with!